Strand anchoring device



March 9, 1954 R, HENSLEY 2,671,253

STRAND ANCHORING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1949 2 SheetsSheet l JAN RA YMOND HENSL 5K IN VEN TOR.

ATTOENEK March 9, 1954 HENSLEY 2,671,253

STRAND ANCHORING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illa!!! IIIIIIII r I III III

h IIII.

RAYMOND HENSLEY,

INVENTOR.

AT TORNEK Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAND ANCHORING DEVICE Raymond Hensley, Compton, Calif.

Application June 18, 1949, Serial No. 100,026

2 Claims.

This invention relates to anchoring devices, and more particularly to a device for anchorin the ends of strands, such as various forms of wire, wire rope or the like.

Although the device of the present invention is particularly adapted for mounting clothes lines, and has been illustrated and described herein as such device, it is to be understood that the device is not limited to that field of use, for it can be used wherever it is desired to hold an elongate strand in a taut condition under ten sion.

The present invention, in the broadest aspects thereof, contemplates means for tightly holding an end of a strand under tension, which means are made operative by the tension forces in the strand and rendered inoperative by the release of said tension forces. In all forms of the invention herein shown, this means comprises a pair of jaws each having a working or gripping surface formed with a plurality of teeth. The jaws, although pivotally mounted, are also free to move a limited distance both longitudinally and transversely. Means fixed relative to the jaws cooperate with means carried by the jaws to move the same transversely as a result of forces producing longitudinal movement of the jaws in one direction. The jaws are caused to move toward each other as a result of forces producing longitudinal movement in the opposite direction.

A spring normally urges said jaws in the longitudinal direction producing movement of the jaws toward each other, but the spring action is easily overcome by the insertion of an end of the strand between the gripping surface of the jaws, which moves the jaws in the opposite direction to bring about spreading movement of the jaws to permit the strand to be easily moved through the jaws even though the spring tends to maintain the jaws in engagement with the strand.

After the end of the strand has been passed between the jaws, the projecting end may be gripped by any means desired and the strand drawn as tautly as desired. Upon release of the pulling force, the strand will be held in the taut condition, for the tension forces in the strand, because of the engagement of'the teeth of the jaws with the strand, moves the jaws in the direction producing inward or gripping movement of the jaws. In fact, the higher the tension forces, the tighter the strand is gripped by the jaws.

In one form of thexdevice of the present inven tion, the means for gripping the end of a strand: passed through thehoiding jawsandi for: exerting a. tension force on the strand are actually'carried' by the device itself. In the form of this embodiment illustrated, the means comprises a second pair of jaws mounted for longitudinal movement to the rear of the holding jaws and moveable against the action of a relatively strong spring to grip the projecting end of the strand. The relatively strong spring, upon release of the force moving the second pair of jaws toward the holding jaws, tends to move these jaws away from the holding jaws, and this movement brings about clamping action of the second set of jaws to tightly grip the strand and the same is thereafter held taut by the spring.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a clothes line installation in which one embodiment of the present invention is shown in use;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the holding jaws removed from the device;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a modified embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a section taken along line li -6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a section taken along 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a section taken along line Ill-I0 of Figure 8; and

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view of a member showing in elevation a still further modified form of the device of the present invention.

The device of the present invention comprises, referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 4, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, a'pair of blocks I!) each having a coplanar surface in mutual facewise' engagement. The blocks are substantially semi-cylindrical in shape and are thus easily fitted within a short tubular element H which forms, together with the blocks, the body member of the device. The blocks are held against separation from the tubular member by means of some suitable fastening means such as drive screws, one of which is shown at 12. The engaged faces of the blocks I at the one end thereof are cut away to form a narrow chamber I3 extending diametrally across the tubular element I I.

A pair of identical jaws I4, having a thickness substantially equal to the width of the chamber l3, are mounted within the chamber I3 and the adjacent walls thereof engage and support the opposite faces of the jaws. The one surface of each jaw is formed with a plurality of teeth I5 and the toothed surfaces of the jaws, as clearly seen in Figure 2, form the gripping surfaces of the jaws and cooperate with each other to grip an article disposed therebetween. It should be noted now that the teeth are so set that they will resist movement of the article gripped if the article is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 2, but will permit movement of the article to the right as viewed in this figure.

The blocks III are each formed with a pair of spaced passages I6 which form, when the blocks are mounted within the tubular element II, a pair of passageways extending across the assembled blocks. The aligned passages I6 receive the opposite ends of pins I1, which, referring again to Figure 2, extend across cut away portions of the jaws I4. It will be seen that the one surface of each cut away portion presents a surface I8 angularly extending relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element II. The fingers I9 formed at opposite ends of each jaw by the portion cut away or removed therefrom form retaining means for holding the jaws against separation from the blocks I 0 for they limit longitudinal movement of the jaws.

It should now be seen that each jaw is mounted between the adjacent walls of the chamber I3 formed by the cut away portion of the blocks ID for limited longitudinal movement within said chamber. As the surfaces I8 of the jaws extend angularly to the toothed surfaces, longitudinal movement of the jaws I4 will result in transverse movement of the jaws because of the camming action between the pins I1 and the angularly extending faces I8. It will be seen that the pins I1 do act as cam elements cooperative with the follower elements formed by the surfaces I8 to produce transverse movement of the jaws as they are longitudinally moved in the chamber I3. More specifically, if the jaws I 4 are longitudinally moved to the right as viewed in Figure 2, the coaction between the pins I1 and the surfaces I8 produces transverse movement of the jaws away from each other, while longitudinal movement of the jaws to the left as viewed in Figure 2, will produce transverse movement of the jaws toward each other.

The adjacent faces of the blocks I0 are formed with semi-cylindrical grooves 2I which form, when the blocks are assembled within the tubular element I I, a substantially cylindrical passage for receiving a coiled spring 22. The spring 22 seats at the one end against a washer 23, which may be force fitted into the one end of the substane tially cylindrical passage formed by the grooves 2I. The spring exerts a leftward thrust against the inner ends of the jaws I4 as viewed in Figure 2 and consequently so moves the jaws longitudinally as to bring about transverse movement of the jaws toward each other. The spring 22 in addition to tending to move the jaws together to bring the toothed surfaces into engagement, also maintains the surfaces I8 in engagement with the pins I1 in all positions of the jaws.

This is so for it will be seen that the thrust exerted by the spring 22 against the one end of each of the jaws I4 is applied thereto at a point spaced inwardly of the point of engagement of the pins I1 with the surfaces I8 of the jaws. Thus, there is applied to the jaws by the single spring forces having inwardly as well as longitudinally directed components. These components produce in addition to the longitudinal movements previously explained, inwardly directed movement of the end portions of the jaws engaged by the spring and consequently outwardly directed movement of the opposite end portions of the jaws. This outward movement of the jaws coupled with the longitudinal movement causes the surfaces I8 to engage and maintain engagement with the pins IT in all positions of the jaws.

The tubular element II is telescopically fitted into the one end of a relatively long cylindrical member 24 and the two are relatively movable longitudinally of each other. To prevent separation of the tubular member 24 from the element II and also to limit the longitudinal movement thereof relative to the element, at least one elongate slot 25 is formed in the wall of the member 24 in which rides the screw I2 holding the one block III within the tubular element II. It will be thus seen that the tubular member 24 may move longitudinally of the tubular element I I a distance equal to the length of the slot 25.

The opposite end of the tubular member 24 carries a pair of blocks 26 similar to the blocks 1 0 and between which are mounted a pair of jaws 21 substantially identical to the jaws I4. The jaws 21 are mounted for compound movement in the same manner as are the jaws I4 and the angularly extending surfaces 28 of the jaws 21 cooperate with pins 29 in the same way as the surfaces III of the jaws I4 cooperate with the pins I1. The jaws 21 are also held normally with the toothed surfaces in engagement by a coil spring 3| seated on a washer 32 fixed within the one end of a cylindrical opening formed by grooves formed in the adjacent faces of the blocks 26, which are held against separation from the tubular member 24 by drive screws shown at 33.

Compressed between the inner faces of the blocks I0 and the blocks 26 is a relatively strong coil spring 34 which acts to normally hold the tubular member 24 in the position this member occupies in Figure 2. Although the spring 34 will normally hold the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, an application of a force against the member 24 to the left as viewed in the figure referred to above will move th member to the left and compress the spring 34. Release of the force applied to the tubular member 24 will result in movement of the member 24 to the right under the urging of the spring 34.

In the illustrated use of the device, the same is shown as mounting the one end of an elongate strand 35, the opposite end 36 of which is securely anchored to the cross pole 31 of a clothes line pole 38. The end of the strand 35 mounted by the device of the present invention is passed through the crosshead 39 of the clothes pole 40 and is passed between the jaws I4 as well as the jaws 21. The end of the strand 35 projecting beyond the tubular element 24 may be grasped and pulled to put the strand 35 under tension by any means desired, such as by the hands or a pair of pliers. --,Thejaws I 4. as wellasv the jaws 21, are continually held in engagement with the strand as the springs 22 and 3| will; as abovementioned, tend to move the jaws to the left as viewed in Figure 2, which, it will be remembered, results in the movement of the jaws transversely toward each other. As the teeth of both jaws are so set that they resist movement of the article grasped to the left as viewed in Figure 2, release of the pulling force on the strand 35 will result in movement of the strand 35 toward the left. This movement of the strand 35, because of the bite of the jaws i l and 21, will result in movement of the jaws to the left and, at the same time, the jaws are moved toward each other to securely grasp the strand 35. In fact, the higher the tension forces in the strand 35, the more tightly the jaws will tend to grasp or bite into the strand, due to the fact that the jaws also tend to rock or pivot inwardly about the axes of the pins as the latter move rightwardly relative to the jaws. Consequently the end of the strand grasped by the jaws will be very tightly held against movement relative to the crosshead 39.

If in use the strand 35 should become slack for any reason whatsoever, to take up this slack it is only necessary to move the tubular member 24 toward the tubular element H, for this movement, although it does not disturb the grasping action of the jaws l4, does result in movement of the jaws 21 away from each other, for these jaws, as the tubular member 2A is telescoped down over the element frictionally slid over the strand 35 and are moved toward the right relative to the member 2a. As soon as the force which has moved the tubular element 24 to the left as viewed in Figure 2 is released, the jaws ii? tend to bite into the strand 35 because of action of the spring 3! and are consequently longitudinally moved to the left relative to the tubular member 24 and are thus moved into good gripping relation with the strand 3%. 34, as it tends to move the tubular member 24 to the right, will now exert a tension load on the strand gripped by the jaws 2'! an: will more the strand to the right to take up the slack in the same. plained, will permit movement of the strand to the right, so that these jaws in no way interfere with the tightening action of the jaws 2i and the spring 34. They will, however, act to pro vent movement of the strand to the left as viewed I in Figure 2 as has been heretofore explained.

It will now be obvious that the tubular member 24 and th structure carried thereby form a meansfor also initially putting the strand under tension. This is so, for it is only necessary to insert the unanchored end of the strand through the jaws I l and 2'! and repeatedly move the mer. ber 24 toward the element H as in the slack removing operation previously described and the strand will be fed through the device in a stepby-step motion each time the member 24 is moved toward the element H and released for return by the spring 34.

It is obvious that if the clothes line insta lation consists of a plurality of strands 35 such as shown in Figure 1, one device of the present in vention will be needed to anchor the end of each strand of the installation.

Although the tubular member 25 and the jaws 21 form a convenient means for tightening the W strand anchored by the device, this member and the elements associated therewith may be dispensed with if a more economical unit is desired. There is shown, for. example, in Figure 5' a holds ing member more economical to produce than The spring The jaws M, as has been previously eirthe device shown in Figures 1 "through 4 and which comprises the device shown in Figure 2 but with the tubular member 24 and its associated elements removed therefrom. In the use of the device shown in Figure 5 the unanchored end of the strand, after it has been passed through the crosshead of the clothes pole, is passed through the jaws 4| until the end thereof can be grasped and the strand pulled until the same is taut between the poles. When th pulling force is released, the tension forces created in the strand will of course tend to move the strand to the left as viewed in Figure 5 and the spring 42 in holding the jaws All in engagement with the strandhas conditioned the jaws to bite into the strand and thus be moved longitudinally to the left. Movement of the jaws to the left, because of the camming action brought about by the angularly extending surfaces 43 of the jaws and the pin 44 carried by the blocks 45 moves the jaws into engagement with the opposite surfaces of the strand to tightly grasp the same and prevent further movement oi the strand to the left.

If the line held by the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 5 should become slack, the line can be again made taut by merely grasping the projecting end of the strand and pulling the same to the right until the de sired degree of tautness is had. The release of the strand will, as should now be understood, cause the jaws 4| to again move into good gripping relation with the strand and hold the end gripped between the jaws securely anchored.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 7-10, inclusive, the gripping jaws A1 are mounted between the legs 48 of a substantially U-shaped body member formed by folding back upon itself a strap or band of suitable length. The legs d3 of the body member are held against spreading movement by a pair of rivets 29 which are so placed that they pass through the cut away portion of the jaws 41 forming the angularly extending surface 5| of each jaw 47.

The adjacent faces of the jaws 4'! are formed with a plurality of teeth 52 which are formed in the same manner as were the teeth iii of the earlier described embodiment of the present in vention. The jaws 41 are engaged and supported by the adjacent or inner faces of the legs at and are movable longitudinally of the body member to bring about the transverse movement of the same because of the coaction'between the surfaces SI and the shanks of the rivets at. As in the earlier described embodiments of the inven tion, longitudinal movement of the jaws in opposite directions is limited by the fingers 53 formed at opposite ends of the jaws. The free ends of the legs 48 are each formed with semi cylindrical concavities 54 which form an enclosure for a coil spring 55 acting against the jaws 41 and normally tending to move the same longitudinally in the direction producing move ment of the jaws toward each other.

The device illustrated in Figures 7-10, in elusive, is used in substantially the same manner as is the embodiment of the device shown in Figures 5 and 6. It should be obvious now that the one end of a strand, after it is passed through the member to which it is to be anchored, is then passed through an opening 55 formed in the body 5'! of the U-shaped body member and aligned with the toothedsurfaces of the jaws 41 Theend of thestrand cannow be pushed through-the jaws 4 1,; forthe teeth 52-, although held in engagement with the strand by the spring 55, are so set as to permit this movement of the strand through the jaws. After the end of the strand has been passed through the jaws and the end thereof is accessible at the free ends of the legs 48, this projecting end can be gripped by some suitable means and the strand drawn as taut as desired. Release of the force pulling the strand taut, as in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, results in such longitudinal movement of the jaws brought about by the resistance to withdrawing movement of the strand by the teeth 52 as to bring the jaws together into good gripping relation with the strand to anchor the same.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7-10, inclusive, the anchoring device is mounted exteriorly of the member to which the strand is to be anchored. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 11, the anchoring device is adapted to be mounted interiorly of the member to which the strand is to be anchored. The embodiment of the device of the present invention shown in Figure 11 is identical in all respects to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1-10, inclusive, except that in this form of the invention the free ends of the legs 59 are formed with laterally extending flanges 6| which limit inward movement of the U-shaped body member 62 relative to the mem ber 63 in which the device is mounted and to which the strand is to be anchored.

As this embodiment of the invention is identical except as noted above to the form of the invention shown in Figures 7-10, inclusive, it is not believed necessary to describe the elements thereof in detail. Suflice it to say that the embodiment shown in Figure 11 includes a pair of jaws 64 identical to the jaws ll, only one of which is visible in the figure referred to, having angularly extending surfaces coacting with rivets 65 for producing transverse movement of the jaws as the same are moved longitudinally of the jaw member. A spring 66 acts as did spring 55 to hold the gripping surfaces of the jaws in engagement with the strand to be anchored, as well as to maintain the angularly extending faces of the jaws in engagement with the rivets 65.

It will now be seen that all embodiments of the present invention herein shown and described comprise an aligned pair of longitudinally movable jaws having means for moving the jaws away from each other when the same are longitudinally moved by the insertion of a strand therebetween and toward each other as the jaws are longitudinally moved in the opposite direction by attempted withdrawal of the strand from between the jaws. The present invention therefore provides means for easily and quickly anchoring the end of a strand and for maintaining the same as taut as desired. Furthermore, in all embodiments of the present invention illustrated, the higher the tension force in the strand tending to urge the strand in the withdrawing direction, the tighter the jaws grip the strand to maintain the same in the desired taut condition.

Although the now preferred embodiment of thepresent invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, for it is susceptible to changes in form and detail within the scope of the appended claims. a

1 A'device of the type described, comprising: a pair of telescoping tubular members; means for limiting telescoping movement of said members between collapsed and extended positions; a pair of jaws mounted for longitudinal and transverse movement within each member; means for moving each pair of jaws toward each other as the same are longitudinally moved in one direction and permitting movement away from each other as the same are longitudinally moved in the opposite direction; resilient means associated with each pair of jaws and normally urging each pair of jaws in the longitudinal direction producing movement of the jaws toward each other; a spring interposed between said telescoping members and normally tending to hold said members in said extended position, the insertion of an end of a strand between both of said pair of jaws moving said jaws longitudinally in the direction permitting movement of the same away from each other; said resilient means holding said jaws in engagement with said strand as the same is moved in its inserting movement between said jaws; withdrawing movement of said strand moving said pairs of jaws in the longitudinal direction producing movement of the jaws of each pair toward each other to securely grip said strand to prevent withdrawal thereof; said spring yielding as said tubular members are telescoped relative to each other to said collapsed position to move the pair of jaws nearest the end of said strand toward the other pair of said jaws, said moving jaws being moved longitudinally in the direction permitting spreading movement of the jaws by the frictional resistance of the jaws over said strand; return of said telescoping members toward said extended position under the action of said spring producing longitudinal movement of said moving jaws in the opposite direction whereby said jaws are caused to securely grip said strand, thereby preventing return of said telescoping members to their extended position and resiliently holding said strand taut.

2. A device of the type described, comprising: a pair of jaws; a plurality of teeth carried by adjacent surfaces of said jaws and so formed thereon as to permit movement oi": an article therebetween in one direction and to resist movement of the article in the opposite direction; a holder for receiving said jaws for transverse and longitudinal movement therein; means permitting movement of said jaws away from each other as the jaws are moved longitudinally in the one direction and moving said jaws toward each other as the same are moved longitudinally in the opposite direction; a spring normally urging said jaws in the longitudinal direction producing movement of the jaws toward each other, the

' insertion of an end of a strand between and through said jaws in said one direction moving the jaws against the action of the resilient means in the longitudinal direction permitting spreading movement of the jaws to facilitate passage of the strand between and through said jaws, said resilient means holding the toothed surfaces of said jaws in engagement with said strand whereby withdrawing movement of said strand in the said opposite direction is resisted by said teeth, thereby moving said jaws in the longitudinal direction producing movement of said jaws toward each other and into good gripping relation with said strand to hold the same against withdrawing movement; a second pair of jaws; a plurality of teeth carried by adjacent surfaces of said jaws and so formed thereon as to permit movement of an article'therebetween in one direction and to resist movement of the article in the opposite direction; means mounting said jaws for transverse and longitudinal movement thereon; means for permitting movement of said jaws away from each other as the jaws are moved longitudinally in the one direction and moving said jaws toward each other as the same are moved longitudinally in the opposite direction; a second spring normally urging said jaws in the longitudinal direction producing movement of the jaws toward each other; and means for holding said mounting means coaxially to said holder for movement between alternate positions relative thereto; and resilient means interposed between said holder and said mounting means for normally holding said mounting means in the position spaced from said holder; the insertion of the end of the strand passed through said first jaws between said second jaws moving said second jaws in the longitudinal direction permitting spreading movement of said second jaws to facilitate passage of said strand through said second jaws, movement of mounting means manually toward said holder moving said second jaws along said strand, return of said mounting means under the action of said resilient means moving said second jaws in the direction longi- 10 tudinally of the mounting means producing movement of said second jaws towards each other and into good gripping relation with said strand, thereby preventing return of said mounting means to its normal position whereby said strand is resiliently held taut.

RAYMOND HENSLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 356,691 Loch Jan. 25, 1887 1,141,257 Norton June 1, 1915 1,207,549 Gilman Dec. 5, 1916 1,348,666 Schuler Aug. 3, 1920 1,379,165 Burns May 24, 1921 1,430,783 Berger Oct. 3, 1922 1,628,235 De Med May 10, 1927 1,708,979 Usher Apr. 16, 1929 2,062,628 Yannetta Dec. 1, 1936 2,105,178 Berndt Jan. 11, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 365,200 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1932 

